Quantitative photometrical assessment of iron deposits in synovial membranes in different joint diseases.

We investigated 86 synovial membranes from patients suffering either from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA). Iron deposits in the synovial membrane were stained by the Prussian blue reaction, and the amount of stained iron was quantitatively assessed by microscope photometry. We found a statistically significant increase in iron deposits in the synovial membrane of RA patients when compared to OA patients.

[Development of a new quantitative rheumatoid factor test].

A new simple identification of rheumatoid factor on nitrocellulose was developed that allows quantitative detection. Verification of the results was done by comparison with the established Waaler-Rose-Test and Latextest: Correlation coefficient of linear regression for Latextest rLR = 0.717 and for Waaler-Rose-Test rLR = 0.

[HLA-B27-negative sacroiliitis as a complication of inflammatory forms of acne: case reports and review of the literature].

In this review, three patients with severe inflammatory acne accompanied by a distinct rheumatologic syndrome are discussed together with 44 similar cases reported in the literature. This syndrome, here referred to as "acne-associated arthritis (AAA)" usually involves male teenagers and twins. The most characteristic clinical findings relate to the axial skeleton as well as the sterno-costo-clavicular region.

[Clinical value of histomorphologic studies of joint capsules].

The clinical significance of the histomorphological evaluation of synovial tissue from 389 patients with joint diseases was studied. From these data we conclude: (1) the histomorphological diagnosis in joint diseases is rarely of decisive value (6.2%); (2) in 23.

[Incomplete Felty syndrome with manifestation of arthritis following a long-standing course of the disease].

A 62-year-old female patient with splenomegaly, severe granulocytopenia, recurrent infections and negative rheumatoid factor test initially had no clinical evidence of rheumatoid arthritis. Leucopenia responded to splenectomy and did not recur during 7 years follow-up. Symmetrical metacarpophalangeal joint-swelling developed 9 months after 7 years of radiographic destruction.

Immunophotometric quantification of extravascular immunoglobulin deposits in the synovial membrane of patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

The amount of extravascular immunoglobulin deposits in the synovial membrane of patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis was studied in comparison with that of patients suffering from non-joint diseases. Immunoglobulin deposits were immunostained using the three-layer immunoperoxidase method. The staining results were quantified with the help of a microscope photometer connected with a scanning stage.

[Results of long-term D-penicillamine therapy in chronic polyarthritis].

In 34 patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis the therapeutic efficacy of 600 mg/die of D-penicillamine was evaluated for five years. Patients were included in the study only if the duration of their disease exceeded 6 months (upper limit 12 months), and there was involvement of 6 or more joints and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (1 Hour values greater than or equal to 25 mm). In 9 patients (26%) a decline in the activity index could be observed, but 7 of these subjects had a deterioration of findings as assessed by x-ray.

[Effectiveness of D-penicillamine therapy in chronic polyarthritis].

In 52 patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis the therapeutic efficacy of 600 mg/die of D-penicillamine was evaluated for two years in a prospective trial. Patients were included in the study only if the duration of their disease exceeded 6 months (upper limit 12 months), and there was involvement of 6 or more joints and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (1 hour values greater than or equal to 25 mm). In 26 patients (50%) a decline in the activity index could be observed, but 18 of these subjects had a deterioration of findings as assessed by X-ray.

[No correlation between suppressor cell function and disease activity in natural history studies of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

In ten patients with systemic lupus erythematosus lymphocyte suppressor cell function was repeatedly monitored over a period of nine months. The method used is based on the finding that in vitro addition of ConA to PWM-stimulated lymphocytes activates suppressor T cells which in turn inhibit immunoglobulin synthesis. Nine of ten SLE patients exhibited significant impairment of IgG suppression but no correlation was found between the outcome of the IgG suppressor cell assay and disease activity or the treatment protocol applied.

Distribution of mast cells in human synovial tissue of patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Mast cells are demonstrated in synovial membranes of patients with osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis using a new staining principle based on interaction of heparin in mast cell granules with peroxidase labeled avidin. It was found that mast cell numbers in the subsynovial layer of patients with rheumatoid arthritis were significantly lower than those in patients suffering from osteo-arthritis. This decrease can be mainly attributed to patients with rheumatoid arthritis whose synovitis was characterized by a distinct histomorphological pattern consisting of lining cell ulcers and granulation tissue.

Effect of ASTA Z 7557 (INN mafosfamide) a precursor of 4-hydroxy-cyclophosphamide on human T-lymphocytes' Fc-receptors and immunoregulatory functions.

The precursor ASTA Z 7557 of the in vivo active metabolite 4-hydroxy-cyclophosphamide (4OH-Cy) of cyclophosphamide (Cy) was tested for selective effects on human T-lymphocytes' Fc gamma-receptor expression and certain immunoregulatory functions. It has been found that ASTA Z 7557 does not alter the expression of Fc gamma-F- or Fc gamma-I-receptors on the T-cell membrane nor does it exhibit differential toxicity for either T-cell subpopulation. PWM-induced B-cell proliferation is inhibited by ASTA Z 7557, whereas B-cells' Ig-synthesis as well as ConA-driven T-cell proliferation is only blocked with higher doses of the reagent.

[Fc gamma receptor-bearing T lymphocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus in relation to disease activity and treatment].

In peripheral blood of SLE-patients fluctuating patterns of Fc-gamma-receptor bearing T-lymphocytes have been observed, when long term monitoring has been performed. No influence of disease activity and corticoid treatment on number of Fc-gamma-receptor bearing lymphocytes was seen.

[Isolation, structure elucidation and synthesis of a hexapeptide from the hemodialysate of uremic patients].

Lyophilised hemodialysates of uremic patients were fractionated on Sephadex G-15 for investigation of potential uremic toxins. One of the oligopeptides found in the fraction of postulated toxins was purified to homogeneity by gel, reversed-phase and adsorption chromatography and by high-performance liquid chromatography. Dansyl Edman degradation revealed the sequence Ala-Phe-Phe-Gly-Glu, which was synthesized by the solid-phase method.

Two distinct Fc receptors for IgG on human peripheral T lymphocytes.

The proportion of human peripheral T lymphocytes forming rosettes with IgG-coated ox erythrocytes (ORBC) is increased after controlled hypotonic treatment. This increment may be as high as 40% of total T cells, depending on the lymphocyte donor. Such treatment is shown not to result in selective cell loss.

Distribution of lysozyme in synovial tissue of patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated by different enzyme histochemical methods.

Lysozyme-producing cells were analysed by enzyme histochemistry in paraffin sections of synovial tissue of 60 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 20 patients with osteoarthritis (OA). For lysozyme detection three enzyme histochemical systems - peroxidase-anti-peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase and biotin-avidin - were used in parallel experiments. Lysozyme was found to be produced by polymorphonuclear cells, mononuclear phagocytes and part of synovial lining cells.

[The effect of basic therapeutic procedures on the immunoregulatory T-cell apparatus in patients with chronic polyarthritis].

Five by five patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with gold salts, D-penicillamine and cyclophosphamide. The T-lymphocyte subpopulations were measured. In patients, treated with gold salts or D-penicillamine, we did not find alterations of the number of TG- and TM-lymphocytes.

Urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and alanine aminopeptidase in patients receiving amikacin or cis-platinum.

Urinary excretion of alanine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.

[Comparative study of the diagnostic value of disc electrophoresis of urinary proteins and measurement of the excretion of N-acetylglucosaminidase for the detection of renal tubule damage in chronic polyarthritis (author's transl)].

A method is described for the determination of the enzyme N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in gel-filtered urine. The individual reaction parameters were tested, and the reliability of the method was determined. The stability of the enzyme in urine was investigated at different temperatures over a 6 week period.

[Tubular nephropathy in chronic polyarthritis].

Disc electrophoresis and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) of urine are sensitive indicators of renal damage. In 28 from 50 patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis, a tubular proteinuria and a high urinary NAG-excretion and in 10 other patients one of these pathological parameters were detected. A positive correlation with disease activity was noted.

[Analysis of urinary proteins from 50 patients with multiple myeloma by discelectrophoresis (author's transl)].

Urinary proteins from 50 patients with multiple myeloma (37 Ig G, 6 Ig A, 7 Bence Jones) were investigated by discelectrophoresis in polyacrylamidgels containing sodium dodecylsulfat. All samples were also characterized by immunelectrophoresis. Quantitatively and qualitatively normal proteinuria was found in 13 patients (26%).

[Control of penicillamine therapy in patients with chronic polyarthritis through urine disc electrophoresis].

D-penicillamine treatment of 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis with negative ANF tests, was followed by means of protein disk electrophoresis of the urine. In the beginning the urine proteins were analysed every 4 weeks, later at intervals of 3 to 6 months. A glomerular proteinuria, caused by an immune-complex nephritis, can be recognized very early by this method.

[Kidney complications in chronic polyarthritis].

50 patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis treated with D-penicillamine were studied every 4 weeks by disk electrophoresis of the urine to make an early record of the glomerular proteinuria of the immune complex nephritis, which has been described as a side effect of this treatment. In 30 of these patients we found, however, a tubular proteinuria which correlated well with the disease activity and which disappeared after successful basic treatment. This finding indicates interstitual renal involvement due to the basic disease.

[Analysis of urinary proteins by disc electrophoresis: a method for the differential diagnosis of kidney diseases (author's transl)].

After introductory observations on the role of the kidney in protein metabolism, the methodology and results of disc electrophoresis on polyacrylamide, using detergents, are discussed. Separation of urinary proteins according to molecular weight permits the differentiation of kidney diseases into those of the glomerulus and of the tubules. Proteinurias of prerenal and postrenal origin are also differentiated.